Information and

Communication
Technology
Prepared by:
Assist. L. Khalan Jalil Rostam

Chapter Two University of Sulaimani

Accounting Department
Generation of Computer
1. First Generation
The period of first generation : 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.

2. Second Generation
The period of second generation : 1959-1965. Transistor based.

3. Third Generation
The period of third generation : 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.

4. Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation : 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor
based.
5. Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation : 1980-onwards.ULSI microprocessor
based
Types of Computer

There are three bases on which we can

define the types of computers. We will
discuss the type of computers on the basis
of purpose, data handling capability
and size.
Computers based on Purpose

1. General-purpose computers perform basic input/output functions like calculations,

smaller-scale data storage, and very basic activities such as calculators, laptops, desktops and
mobile phones.

2. Special-purpose computers are particularly to perform a specific function such as

thermometers for temperature, generators for electricity, engineering computers for IT firms.
 Computer – Data Handling Capabilities

1. Analog Computers are particularly designed to process analog data.

Continuous data that changes continuously and cannot have discrete values
are called analog data.

• Analog computer is used where we don’t need exact values or need

approximate values such as speed, temperature, pressure, etc.

• It can directly accept the data from the measuring device without first
converting it into numbers and codes.

• It measures the continuous changes in physical quantity.

• For example speedometer, mercury thermometer, etc.

Computer – Data Handling Capabilities

2. Digital computers are designed in such a way that they can easily perform calculations and
logical operations at high speed. It takes raw data as input and processes it with programs stored
in its memory to produce the final output.

• It only understands the binary input 0 and 1, so the raw input data is converted to 0 and 1 by the
computer and then it is processed by the computer to produce the result or final output.

• All modern computers, like laptops, desktops including smartphones are digital computers.
Computer – Data Handling Capabilities
3. Hybrid Computer as the name suggests hybrid, which means made by combining two
different things. Similarly, the hybrid computer is a combination of both analog and digital
computers.
• Hybrid computers are fast like analog computers and have memory and accuracy like digital
computers.
• It has the ability to process both continuous and discrete data. For working when it accepts
analog signals as input then it converts them into digital form before processing the input data.
• It is widely used in specialized applications where both analog and digital data are required to
be processed.
• A processor which is used in petrol pumps that converts the measurements of fuel flow into
quantity and price is an example of a hybrid computer.
Computer based on size
1. Supercomputers are the biggest and
fastest computers (in terms of speed of
processing data). Supercomputers are
designed such that they can process a huge
amount of data, like processing trillions of
instructions or data just in a second. This is
because of the thousands of interconnected
processors in supercomputers.
• It is basically used in scientific and
engineering applications such as weather
forecasting, scientific simulations, and
nuclear energy research.
Computer based on size
2. Mainframe computers are designed in such a way that they can support hundreds or thousands
of users at the same time. It also supports multiple programs simultaneously.
• They can execute different processes simultaneously.
• All these features make the mainframe computer ideal for big organizations like banking, telecom
sectors, etc., which process a high volume of data in general.
• It is also an expensive or costly computer.
• It has high storage capacity and great performance.
• It runs smoothly for a long time and has a long life.
Computer based on size
Applications of mainframe computers:
• Allows medical firms to maintain and track records of millions of patients relating to medicines,
appointments, and updates.
• In defense security, one branch can exchange large and sensitive information with another
branch.
• Allows universities and academies to maintain data of their students, teachers, other subgroups,
etc. They can manage, change and retrieve according to their convenience.
• Similarly, the retail sector also needs these computers to maintain a database of their large
customer group distributed across the city and sometimes countries.
Computer based on size
3. Mini frame or Minicomputer is a medium size multiprocessing computer. In this type of
computer, there are two or more processors, and it supports 4 to 200 users at one time.
• Minicomputer is similar to Microcontroller.
• Minicomputers are used in places like institutes or departments for different work like billing,
accounting, inventory management, etc.
• The manufacturing firms use it for process control. It collects data and gives back feedback and
fixes any abnormality instantly.
• Small organizations like local hospitals and hotels use it to store and share data related to their
customers/ patients. Data management is the key function here.
• It is often used as a communicator in a large system as it becomes a portal between the operator
and processor.
Computer based on size
4. Workstation is a single-user computer designed mainly for technical and scientific
applications. The microprocessor is very fast with a large RAM and high-speed adapters. It is
known to perform a specific task only and thus the market offers variations like graphic
workstations, music workstations, etc.
• Better than the personal computer with a powerful CPU, more storage, and better-looking
graphics.
• Their application is endless as there is a computer available for every expertise field.
• It can multitask between audio, video, animation, editing, etc.
Computer based on size
5. Microcomputer is basically a general-purpose computer designed for individual use. It consists
of a microprocessor as a central processing unit(CPU), memory, input unit, and output unit. This
kind of computer is suitable for personal work such as making an assignment, watching a movie,
or at the office for office work, etc.
The types of microcomputers are
• Notebook computer
• Desktop Model
• Tower computer
• Laptop
• Hand-held computer
• PDA
Components of Computer

All types of computer follows a same basic logical structure and perform the
following five basic operations for converting raw input data into information useful
to their users.
1. Input Information: The process of entering data and instructions into the
computer system.
2. Store Data: Saving data and instructions so that they are available for
processing as and when required.
3. Data Processing : Performing arithmetic, logical operation on the data in order
to convert them into useful information.
4. Output: The process of producing useful information or results for the user,
such as a printed report or visual display.
Components of Computer

Input Unit: The input unit of a computer refers to the input device, which is the
hardware used to receive data from humans. Input devices convert data by humans
into a form that is understandable by computers. Examples of input units are a
mouse, joystick, keyboard, scanner, etc.
Processing Unit: The processing Unit is also known as the Central Processing Unit
(CPU), which handles all the instructions received by the computer and processes
them to produce the desired results. The processing unit performs logical,
arithmetical, and input & output functions.
Output Unit: It refers to the output devices that are used to communicate data from
computers to users. These include hardware that transmits data from computers in a
form that is understandable by humans. Examples of output units are microphones,
monitors, printers, headphones, etc.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
CPU consists of the following features:
• The CPU is the brain of a computer, containing all the circuitry needed to process input, store data,
and output results.
• The CPU is constantly following instructions of computer programs that tell it which data to process
and how to process it.
• Without a CPU, we could not run programs on a computer.
• For example, a simple calculator program might instruct the CPU to take two numbers, 2 and 2, add
them, and send back the result.
CPU itself has following three components.
 Memory Unit
 Control Unit
 ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)
Memory Unit
• It is the amount of data that can be stored in the storage unit. This storage capacity is expressed in
terms of Bytes.
• Memory unit or internal storage unit or main memory or primary storage or Random Access
Memory (RAM). Its size affects speed, power and capability.
• Bit , Nibble, Byte, and Word are the main memory storage units.
Function of Memory Unit are:
1. It stores all the data to be processed and the instructions required for processing.
2. It stores intermediate results of processing.
3. It stores final results of processing before these results are released to an output device.
4. All inputs and outputs are transmitted through main memory.
Control Unit
It is circuitry within a computer’s processor that directs operations. It instructs the memory, logic
unit, and both output and input devices of the computer on how to respond to the program’s
instructions. CPUs and GPUs are examples of devices that use control units.
Functions of this unit are
1. It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data and instructions among other units of a
computer.
2. It manages and coordinates all the units of the computer.
3. It obtains the instructions from the memory, interprets them and directs the operation of the
computer.
4. It communicates with Input/Output devices for transfer of data or results from storage.
5. It does not process or store data.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (AUL)

An arithmetic-logic unit is the part of a central processing unit that carries out arithmetic and logic
operations on the operands in computer instruction words.
This unit consists of two subsection namely
1. ARITHMETIC SECTION : Function of Arithmetic section is to perform arithmetic operations
like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. All complex operations are done by
making repetitive use of above operations.
2. LOGIC SECTION : Function of logic section is to perform logic operations such as comparing,
selecting, matching and merging of data.
Input Devices
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Scanner
• Graphic Tablet
• Microphone
• Optical Character Reader(OCR)
• Bar Code Reader
• Optical Mark Reader
Keyboard
The keyboard helps in inputting the data to the computer. Keyboard are of two sizes 84 keys or 101/102
keys, but now 104 keys or 108 keys keyboard is also available for Windows and Internet.
1. Typing Keys: These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (09) which generally give the
same layout as that of typewriters.
2. Numeric Keypad: It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement.
3. Function Keys: The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which are arranged in a row
at the top of the keyboard.
4. Control keys: These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four directional arrow
keys. Control keys also include Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl),
Alternate(Alt), Escape(Esc).
5. Special Purpose Keys: Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as Enter, Shift,
Caps Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.
Mouse
• It has two buttons called the left and the right button and a wheel is present between the buttons. A
mouse can be used to control the position of the cursor on the screen, but it cannot be used to
enter text into the computer.
• The advantages are easy to use, not very expensive, moves the cursor faster than the arrow keys
of the keyboard.
Optical Character Reader & Bar Code Readers
• OCR is an input device used to read a printed text. It
scans the text optically, character by character, converts
them into a machine readable code, and stores the text
on the system memory.

• Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded

data (data in the form of light and dark lines). Bar coded
data is generally used in labelling goods, numbering the
books, etc.
• Bar Code Reader scans a bar code image, converts it
into an alphanumeric value, which is then fed to the
computer that the bar code reader is connected to.
Optical Mark Reader
• OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to recognize the type of mark made by pen or
pencil. It is used where one out of a few alternatives is to be selected and marked.
• It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of examinations having multiple choice
questions.
Output Devices
Following are some of the important output devices used in a computer.
1. Monitors
2. Graphic Plotter
3. Printer
Monitors & Printers
• Monitors, commonly called as Visual Display Unit
(VDU), are the main output device of a computer. It
forms images from tiny dots, called pixels that are
arranged in a rectangular form. The sharpness of the
image depends upon the number of pixels.

• A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic

output from a computer and transfers the information
to paper.
Graphic Plotter
• A plotter is a machine that produces vector graphics drawings.
• Plotters draw lines on paper using a pen, or in some applications, use a knife to cut a material
like vinyl or leather. In the latter case, they are sometimes known as a cutting plotter.